Check valve



Feb. 17, 1 953 "R" I 2,628,810

CHECK VALVE Filed March 19, 1949- IN VEN TOR.

MMMFWM ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,362

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a check valve and more particularly to a device for preventing the escape of water or anti-freeze vapors from the radiator of an internal combustion engine.

. There has been proposed heretofore the provision of a check valve adapted to be mounted on some part of a radiator for an internal combustion engine so that the water and anti-freeze vapors produced in the radiator are prevented from escaping from the radiator unless the pressure within the radiator exceeds a predetermined safe value. Some of these devices are in the form of a pressure cap for the filling spout of the radiator. A cap of this type is constructed so as to relieve the pressure in the radiator when it reaches a certain value. The main objection to a cap of this type is that a single cap is not adapted for universal use since different makes of cars require radiator caps of different sizes and configurations. Another solution proposed to this problem is the provision of a check valve assembly which is provided with a threaded collar for engagement with the threaded end of the overflow pipe which projects into the radiator. The check valve of this type is not entirely satisfactory not only because it requires the forming of threads on the end of the overflow pipe but also because size of overflow pipes varies with diiferent' types of cars. Each size of overflow pipe would necessitate a check valve of a different size. In addition in radiators of'recent design the overflow pipe does not project, into the radiator but merely extends to and is brazed on the wall of the filling spout. Radiators of this construction, therefore; present a real problem with reference to the connection of a check valve thereon.

It is an object ofthi's invention to produce a check valve which will be effective in preventing 'water and anti-freeze vapors formed in the radiator from escaping through the overfiow pipe in the radiator. More specifically, the invention has to do with the provision of a check valve which is formed so as to be engageable with the overflow pipe of a radiator by merely inserting the valve into the end of the radiator overflow pipe. The invention also contemplates a check valve which can be manufactured economically and which is provided with means for adjusting the valve to open at difierent predetermined pressures.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a check valve shaped so as to be insertable in the end of the overflow pipe of any conventional radia In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section through the upper portion of a radiator for an internal combustion engine showing the check valve arrangement of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the check valve positioned within the end of the overfiow pipe.

Figure :5 is an end view of the check valve taken along the lines 3--3 in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there is shown the upper portion of a conventional radiator l0 having a cylindrical filling spout l2 brazed or otherwise secured to the radiator hell I l. The upper end of the filling spout i2 is flanged as at [6 so as to resiliently engage a flanged cap member it which is provided with a seal 20 on the inside thereof which seats upon the upper end of the filling spout l2 with sufiicient pressure to efiectively seal the contents of the radiator. The filling spout I2 is provided with a flanged aperture 22, the flange projecting outwardly of the filling spout and form- .ing a collar over which the end of an overflow pipe 24 i soldered, brazed or otherwise secured.

The check valve of this invention, generally designated as 26, comprises a body member 28 having an axial bore 30. At one end the bore 30 is flared as at 32 and at the other end the bore fisenlarged as at 34. Within'the bore 30 there is arranged avalve stem 36 having-an enlargement 38 at one end against which a rubber plug member 40 is fitted. Plug 40 is of conical shape so, as to fit snugly within the flared end 32 of which acts at one end against a threadedly engaged with the threaded end 50 of valve stem 35 and against which the disc 46 is arranged to abut. Disc 46 is provided with a plurality of apertures 52 which communicate with the enlarged portion 34 of the bore 30.

In order to adapt the check valve of this invention for insertion into the end of different sized overflow pipes customarily used in radiator constructions, I have found it advantageous to provide on the outer surface of valve body 28 a rubber sleeve 54. Sleeve 54 is fitted on an undercut portion 56 of valve body 28 and is provided with a frusto-conical outer surface 58 which tapers from a large diameter at the shoulder 60 overflow pipe. sleeve 54 with the flanged aperture 22 prevents on valve body 28 to a small diameter at the end of the valve adjacent plug 32. Although the undercut portion 56 of body 28 may be formed with a uniform diameter so as to accommodate a sleeve having a uniform internal diameter, it is preferred to form the undercut portion 56 with a taper as indicated at B2 and the sleeve 54 with a wall of uniform thickness. The outer diameter of sleeve 54 at its small end is smaller than the internal diameter of overflow pipes commonly used on radiators and the diameter of sleeve 54 adjacent shoulder 50 is greater than the internal diameter of overflow pipes commonly used when reduced by a double thickness of the wall of the filling spout I2.

When it is desired to provide a radiator with a check valve device of this invention the valve is simply inserted with its small end foremost into the end of the overflow pipe 24 as is shown in Figure 2. The valve is pushed into the end of the overflow with sufiicient pressure 'to compress the sleeve 54 and firmly wedge it in the The frictional engagement of the valve from becoming loose andfalling out of the 'end of the overflow pipe 24. This action is "further supplanted "by the pressure within the radiator which serves to push the valve further into the'overflow pipe. When the pressure within the radiator exceeds the tension of spring 42 it acts against the plug 32'to shift the stem 36 'to the right as viewed in Figure 2 to open the valve. When the pressure is relieved spring 42 acts through disc 46 and stem 36 to seat plug 40 against the flared end '32 of the valve and thereby effectively seal the radiator and prevent the further escape of vapors therefrom.

Depending upon the conditions of driving and the climate it will be appreciated that the relieving pressure of the valve should be variable within certain limits. When it is desired to increase the pressure at which the valve will relieve the vapors in the radiator, screw 48 is advanced into stem 34 so as to increase the tension in spring 42 and when it is desired to reduce the relieving pressure screw 48 is threaded outwardly from stem 38 to thereby diminish the tension'in spring 42. The end 50 of stem 36 is threaded along only 'a portion of its length however so that the maximum tension that can be applied to the spring is limited to a value wherein therelieving pressure is below the safe maximum value for the radiator.

It will thus be seen that I'have provided a very efficient check valve for an overflow pipe of a radiator which can be economically manufactured and which will positively relieve the pressure within the radiator when it reaches a predetermined value. It will also be appreciated that by providing a sleeve 54 the valve may be used on overflow pipes of various sizes and the rubber enables the valve to be very firmly wedged into the end of the overflow pipe without the provision of additional means for holding the valve in the end of the pipe. The provision of the undercut portion 56 of valve body 28 with a taper enables the use of ordinary rubber tubing for sleeve 54 rather than a specially molded sleeve with an external taper.

What Iclaim is:

A check valve for an overflow pipe of a radiator for an internal combustion engine comprising a valve body having an axial passage therethrough, said passage being enlarged at one end to provided an axially extending, enlarged cylindrical socket open at one end of said body and being fashioned at its other end to provide a valve seat, the portion of said passage intermediate said ends of said body being of substantially uniform transverse dimension, a pin extending axially in said passage, said pin being smaller in diameter than thetransverse dimension of said intermediate portion of said passage whereby substantial clearance is provided between said pin and said passage, a valve member'su-pported at one end of said pin and cooperating with said valve seat to open and close said passage, a perforated disc supported at its center by the opposite end of said pin, said disc slidably engaging the side walls of 'said cylindrical socket to maintain said pin axially-centered in said passage, a compression spring in said cylindrical socket surrounding said pin and having one end acting against said disc and its opposite end acting against the bottom wall of said cylindrical socket, the outer surface portion of said body adjacent said valve seat being of frusto-conical shape, and means forming the external surface of said check valve comprising a sleeve member formed of an elastic material and normally having substantially uniform inner and outer diameters, said sleeve member being stretched over said frusto-oonically shaped surface of said valve body. 7

GEORGE K. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of .record in'the .file of this patent:

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 587,416 Whitehead --Aug. 3 1897 1,013,246 Wheeler Jan. 2,1912 1,409,270 Yearsley Mar. 14, 1922 1,554,127 Roberts Sept. 15, 1925 1,695,722 Smith Dec. 18, 1928 1,779,421 Cox Oct. 28, 1930 1,923,395 Reed Aug. 22, 1933 2,182,278 Bauer Dec. 5, 1939 

